Shoot to Thrill: Speedlight Flash Techniques for Photographers

231 Pages·2014·9.84 MB·English

by  Michael Mowbray

On the Front Cover:
Model: Erin Thomson
Hair/Makeup: Vanexa Yang
For more on this shoot, see pages 38–39.
Acknowledgments:
Contributing Hair/Makeup Artists: Vanexa Yang, Katrina King, Christy Grace
Assistants: Krystal Lamberty, Olivia Linden, Rachel Waldmer, Callie Strouf, Allison Halkey, Brianna Mowbray, James
Stepp, David Grupa
Copyright © 2014 by Michael Mowbray.
All rights reserved.
All photographs by the author unless otherwise noted.
Published by:
Amherst Media, Inc.
P.O. Box 586
Buffalo, N.Y. 14226
Fax: [phone]
www.AmherstMedia.com
Publisher: Craig Alesse
Senior Editor/Production Manager: Michelle Perkins
Associate Editor: Barbara A. Lynch-Johnt
Associate Publisher: Kate Neaverth
Editorial Assistance from: Carey A. Miller, Sally Jarzab, John S. Loder
Business Manager: Adam Richards
Warehouse and Fulfillment Manager: Roger Singo
ISBN-13: 978-1-60895-692-0
Library of Congress Control Number: 2013952500
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic,
mechanical, photocopied, recorded or otherwise, without prior written consent from the publisher.
Notice of Disclaimer: The information contained in this book is based on the author’s experience and opinions. The
author and publisher will not be held liable for the use or misuse of the information in this book.
Check out Amherst Media’s blogs at:
http://portrait-photographer.blogspot.com/
http://weddingphotographer-amherstmedia.blogspot.com/
Contents
About the Author
Foreword
Section 1
Core Concepts
1. TTL Speedlight Exposure
Trying to Turn It Gray
Bend Exposure to Your Will
Why Add Flash?
How Flash Interacts with TTL
2. High-Speed Sync (HSS/FP)
Maximum Flash-Sync Speed
Deep Depth of Field
3. Flash Communication
Infrared Communication
Radio Communication
Adjustments from the Camera Position
4. Hard Light or Soft Light
What It Means
Controlling the Light Quality
Two Approaches
5. Lighting Kits and Setups
Studio Portrait Kit
Location Corporate Headshot Kit
Environmental Portrait Kit
Location Senior Portrait Kit
Wedding Kit
Section 2
Speedlights in Action
1. In the Spotlight
Open doors to find inspiration
2. Madonna of the Rocks
Work with what nature gives you
3. Temptress
Find a muse to help you explore creatively
4. When It’s Art, It’s Not Cheating
Go the extra distance to complete your vision
5. Bridge Players
Speedlighting in the rain
6. Arising
Create your own sunrise
7. Luminous
A play of light and dark
8. A Dip in the Sun
A new view on an old pose
9. Bench Pressing
Get low, get wide, shoot big
10. Boldly Light Where None Has Gone Before
Create light to make any location fit your vision
11. Going Parasoling
Dramatic profile lighting in the midday sun
12. Rusty
Big softboxes can work outside
13. The Spiky Sun
Shoot deep and get a spiky sun
14. Katie
An alternate take on a classic studio portrait
15. Making Light Where There’s Nothing at All
Shoot at night
16. Is this Iowa? No, It’s Phoenix
Fight the strong desert sun and win
17. Going Out on a Limb … or Tree
Where studio strobes are not practical
18. Night and Day
Daytime for night in a noir concept
19. Sunset
The classic sunset portrait request
20. A Little Flare
Put the sun in your background
21. Black Swan
Uplight for drama
22. Raising the Level of Difficulty
Understand what TTL “sees”
23. Clean and Simple
Speedlights for classic studio portraiture
24. Bending the Light
The Lightbender softbox for a beauty portrait
25. Have Light, Will Travel
Beauty lighting in unusual locations
26. A Bounce and a Kiss
Bounced flash portraits on location
27. Getting a Little Punchy
Punch up boring, soft light outside
28. Wandering Eye
Nissin alternatives to Canon and Nikon flashes
29. Here, Kitty Kitty
TTL model images outside in the brutal cold
30. Many Ways to Soften
Simple diffusion panels, instant softboxes
31. Lighting with an Accent
Your speedlight as an accent light
32. Isolating the Subject
Using framing and light to pull attention
33. Zooming Is Far Out
Extra power and distance from your flash
34. A Kiss of Light
Cut the green color cast
35. Theatrical Performance
Creative light in a historic theater
36. Brassy and Sassy
Cool and unusual places for portraiture
37. Quiet Beauty
Adding drama to a classic bridal portrait
38. Glam Black & White
A high-contrast black & white beauty portrait
39. Empire of the Sunset
Working with TTL to create a powerful portrait
40. Let There Be a Light
Speedlights and a little Photoshop magic
41. Doing Double Duty
Controlling the direction and spread of light
42. Joan of Arch
Lighting a dramatic bridal pose on location
43. Take the Dress for a Walk
The visual contrast of pretty versus gritty
44. Lighting Naturally
Soft speedlight to blend with outdoor light
45. Spice It Up with a Little Color
Using colored gels on location
46. Temperature, Temperature
Cool blue tones in tungsten light
47. Getting Soft on Location
Creating an instant softbox on location
48. Vintage Studio
Studio light modifiers with speedlights
49. Slash of Light
A simple spotlight effect with the Snootzie
50. Environmental Portraits
Executive portraits, quickly and efficiently